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'Smoking ban fuels domestic violence'



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Published Date: 20 April 2008
By Emilie Bradshaw
The smoking ban is to blame for high levels of domestic violence in some parts of Preston, according to the city's top policeman.
Figures for the last quarter show domestic violence accounts for as much as 40% of violent crime in some suburban areas in the east of Preston including places such as Ribbleton and St Matthews.

The overall average in Preston is 23%.

And one t
heory is it could be down to a change in people's social drinking habits following last year's smoking ban.

Preston's Chief Supt Peter White said: "We are having reported to us by the licensing trade that the smoking ban is really affecting business in pubs and we know from our patrols in the city centre the pubs don't seem to be as busy.

"We know pubs are closing. A lot of the licensees are quoting the smoking ban and price of alcohol in pubs.

"We also know, relatively speaking, alcohol in supermarkets is very cheap and we also know statistics are showing we have not reduced domestic violence as quickly as the ban has reduced crime in the city centre.

"I don't particularly think it's a leap of faith to suggest one of the reasons crime is going down in the city centre and not going down elsewhere might be people's social drinking habits are changing."

Chief Supt White added: "It would seem sensible that some people will stay at home and drink more because it's cheaper to do it that way.

"That may lead to dispute between partners and therefore domestic violence."

Because domestic violence is often a hidden crime that takes place in the home, police say the increased reporting of incidents could also be seen as positive as the increase may just be that more victims are seeking help.

Chief Insp White said a lot of work was being done to address domestic violence and urged people to come forward and report it.

Director of Preston Women's Refuge, Valerie Wise, said: "It's horrendous that 40% of violent crime cases in some parts of Preston are related to domestic violence.

"I think sometimes people use drink as an excuse and as far as I'm concerned, there's no excuse.

"If people can't hold their alcohol they shouldn't drink. They know if they have got a problem from that perspective.

"Domestic violence is a deliberate act and so can't be excused by having a drop too much to drink."

In February the Evening Post revealed another leading policeman had blamed the ban for pushing violent crime onto the city's streets.

Insp Steve Evans said a sudden increase in smokers lighting up outside pubs and restaurants since the ban had "provoked" trouble in the city centre.

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The full article contains 462 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 19 April 2008 8:25 AM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Preston
 
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NH,

20/04/2008 15:40:37
Those smokers are a bad bunch aren't they! They kill us with their passive smoking, beat us up outside bars and restaurants and batter their significant others behind closed doors. What are they putting in fags these days?
2

angryman9,

blackburn 20/04/2008 18:53:08
This police officer is talking tripe.
Ribbleton has always been a hotbed of domestic violence, mainly because of the dysfunctional morons who live there.
3

Bill Crombie,

20/04/2008 20:01:11
NH - You've obviously been taken in by the government propaganda - second hand smoke from tobacco is virtually harmless. I have asked for a single person whose cause of death has been certified as "passive smoking" - the answer my friend is ZERO, no-one in the whole of the UK.

Your post does you no favours and only highlights your obvious bigotry and prejudice towards smokers. Are you telling me that all acts of violence are committed by people who smoke and no-one else? Complete nonsense and you know it. It is well known that the majority of violence against the person is fuelled by drink; smoking a cigarette does not have this effect.
4

Scotty,

20/04/2008 21:07:59
Bill,

That's like asking for evidence that global warming exists. If nothing else it's a pathetic, spurious argument. At least we know NO smoke is 'TOTALLY HARMLESS'.

Your post does you no favours and only highlights your obvious bigotry and prejudice towards non-smokers.

You also have an obvious lack of the sense of humour that was apparent in NH's post. Maybe you need a fag to calm down pal !!

5

Decent people of Ribbleton,

20/04/2008 23:26:26
RE: angryman9,

I have lived in Ribbleton for 24 years. Myself, plus a lot of other people who live here are NOT dysfunctional morons!! Yes we do have SOME morons, but you get them all over the place!! Myself, i have never experienced any domestic violence, but i do know people who have & guess what? they didnt actually live in Ribbleton!
You seem to be the biggest moron for making pathetic comments like that!
6

Trevor W,

21/04/2008 08:43:45
If you actually read what the policeman says it is that it is the change in people's drinking habits due to price differerentials between pubs and other outlets.

He mentions smoking as something that landlords are quoting. If I remember the last story it had had spin put on it by the LEP.

I think there must be someone on the staff that is addicted to nicotine.

7

Debtman,

21/04/2008 10:43:48
This is totally ridiculous and the headline does not reflect what the policeman said. He blames cheap alcohol and I personally have never seen or heard of anyone smoking 10 fags and then looking for a fight.

Further demonisation of smokers for no reason at all.
8

DaveA,

Atherton 21/04/2008 13:19:37
Can I confirm too that passive smoking has no effect on the recipient. For the hard of thinking here is the logic pattern for domestic violence.

1. No smoking in pubs, can't be bothered to stand out in all weathers so stay at home.
2. Notice beer in pub is £2.50, supermarket £1 or less.
3. Can drink 2.5x for the same money, so drink more, more inebriated.
4. Disengage ones only brain cell and scrape knuckles on floor before assulting partner for nagging you for being in the house night after night.

Or.

1. Go down pub, have relaxing pint and a smoke with regulars.
2. Go home with less alcohol in the system.
3. Arrive home and the wife is asleep.
4. Go to bed, and reflect on domestic bliss.

Not rocket science is it?






9

Trevor W,

21/04/2008 14:03:21
No, that's not rocket science, it is a fairy tale.

I think you meant hard of understanding, but if you are claiming passive smoking is unharmful, then perhaps you fall into that group.

I didn't see the article as demonisation of smokers, but a very feeble attempt to suggest that the smoking ban was a bad thing, which it obviously isn't.
10

Rob Simpson,

UK 21/04/2008 14:30:04
DaveA, you didn't really mean the hard of thinking, you meant the UNthinking. The people who think guessing the right answer on a game show makes them clever or that realityTV is great entertainment.
The 1600 pubs that have closed their doors forever since the inception of the ban show that people aren't going to the pub as much (I'm guessing Trevor W wasn't the owner of any of these businesses which is why he thinks the ban being a good thing is a self evident truth and thus has no need to validate his statement).
With the price of alcohol set to increase home drinking (and the consequences) are going to become an ever greater problem.
In the not too distant future I imagine there being a limit on how much we can buy from the supermarket on a single visit.
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